Blood Circulation and Brain Performance

The flow of blood through the brain, also known as cerebral circulation, is critical for normal brain function. As blood flows through the brain, it supplies the brain cells with oxygen and essential nutrients while at the same time taking with it toxins and other forms of waste.

Despite being only 2% of the human body's weight, the brain uses up more oxygen than any other part of the body, as 20% of the oxygen we breathe goes to the brain. Studies also show that the brain requires 15% of the total cardiac output to function.

Human brain mapping research has brought forth exciting news that brain cells don't age as fast as it was believed before. According to these findings, it is the blood vessels supplying the brain and neurons that age faster.

For this reason, if you wish to lead a long, mentally healthy life, you need to take care of your blood vessels. By maintaining healthy blood vessels, you can overcome certain mental illnesses, including Alzheimer's disease and memory loss. Moreover, you reduce the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cardiovascular disease, among others. In conclusion, sufficient blood supply to the brain improves cognitive abilities and mental performance.

The brain obtains blood from two main arteries: the left and right vertebral arteries and the right and left carotid arteries. The four arteries connect at the base of the brain, forming a circle known as the circle of Willis. From this circle, smaller blood vessels branch out to other parts of the brain.

Carotid arteries are found in the front of the neck, just under the jaw. The carotid arteries branch near the top of the neck into internal arteries going into the skull and external arteries that supply the face. Vertebral arteries form alongside the vertebral column. As they near the brain stem, these arteries join to form a single basilar artery.

The brain also has different veins called venous sinuses, which carry blood containing waste from the brain. The interchange of nutrients and waste products occurs across the brain-blood barrier, which protects the brain.

Whenever the brain doesn't receive the needed oxygen, it suffers from low oxygen and glucose levels, which can result in:

Cerebral edema; the condition can occur from restriction in blood flow to the brain. With this condition, fluid accumulates within the cranial cavity, applying pressure on the brain. If this condition is not addressed in time, it can cause severe damages to the brain.

Cerebral hypoxia; occurs when the brain doesn't receive sufficient oxygen. It can result from choking, drowning, anemia, pulmonary disease, high altitude, and suffocation.

Cerebral hemorrhage; results from bleeding within the cranial cavity. This bleeding occurs when blood vessels in the brain weaken or burst from a health condition or head injury. The blood in the cranial cavity applies pressure to the brain and can be fatal if not addressed immediately.

Stroke; occurs when the blood flow to the brain is blocked due to a blood clot. The tissues in that area of the brain die due to the lack of oxygen and essential nutrients. As a result, specific mental abilities are impaired.

Regardless of age, everyone is at risk of suffering from poor cerebral circulation. However, certain conditions and lifestyles affect brain health. These include excessive drinking of alcohol, smoking, being overweight or obese, diabetes, heart disease or family history of heart disease, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, traumatic stress, brain injury, depression, and hypothyroidism.

As we saw earlier, the brain requires more oxygen than any other body organ. Blood is essential to the brain in the following ways:

• Blood constantly supplies the brain with oxygen, water, and essential nutrients.
• Blood also transports certain useful substances across the brain and other body organs, including neurotransmitters and hormones.
• Blood flow in the brain is also critical as it helps in maintaining a constant brain environment in terms of temperature and pH.
• Also, another function of blood is to get rid of waste such as carbon dioxide and other toxins. Insufficient blood flow can result in the accumulation of waste, which can be damaging to the brain.

If the brain doesn't receive sufficient blood, its cells die, and eventually, the individual parts. However, the damage to the brain depends on the duration and the amount of blood supply and oxygen.

Restricted blood flow to the brain can cause the following symptoms: headaches, memory loss, lightheadedness, dizziness, mental fatigue, and brain fog. Severe cases can result in vertebrobasilar circulatory disorders. It can result from head injuries, stroke, or hardening of blood vessels. The symptoms include:

• tingling or numbness in the face
• unsteady gait
• headache
• muscle weakness
• lack of coordination
• slurred speech
• altered vision

As provided by Harvard research, other symptoms include cramping in feet and hands, cold nose, feet, and hands, nail infections, and the need for caffeine to maintain brain focus.

Studies show that modern lifestyle factors can affect brain circulation. A sedentary lifestyle that involves sitting in the same position for prolonged periods affects blood circulation and causes health conditions such as obesity and high blood pressure. Studies also show that wearing a tight necktie can reduce cerebral blood flow affecting brain performance.

Substances such as caffeine, smoking also cause plaque to accumulate within blood vessels reducing the blood flow. Being overweight also causes thinning of blood vessels from cholesterol accumulation. Finally, the body's reaction to stress reduces blood flow has adverse effects on your brain health.

There are various ways through which you can improve cerebral blood flow. Assuming a healthy lifestyle by quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and doing regular exercise can improve blood flow and boost brain performance. You can also enhance cerebral circulation through diet in the following ways:

• keeping your body well hydrated
• taking green tea, beets, pumpkin seeds, nuts, green leafy vegetables, cayenne pepper, avocados, spinach, sweet potatoes, and berries.
• reducing the salt amounts in your food
• taking at least an ounce of dark chocolate daily
• supplements
• limiting the intake of sodas and processed juices

If you are looking to boost your brain performance, you can do so using supplements. Supplements known to increase blood flow to the brain include Cistanche Tubulosa, omega-3 EPA/DHA, magnesium, vitamin D, multivitamin, and mineral. Morilite, for instance, is a healthy herbal supplement that helps improve brain health.

Morilite contains 100% Tianlife patented Cistanche Tubulosa extract. It is a healthy herbal supplement that helps improve memory function. It helps in learning by stimulating nerve growth and the production of nitric oxide that works as a retrograde neurotransmitter. It also helps promote blood circulation and the provision of antioxidant support.

Cistanche Tubulosa is a well-known traditional medicine used as a natural supplement that has helped many people boost their brain health. Additionally, it helps reduce cholesterol, regulate blood pressure, and improve reproductive health in men.

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